BUFFALO, NY – On July 20, 2026, SWBR joined the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority (BMHA), development partners, public officials, and local stakeholders to celebrate the groundbreaking of Phase One of the Marine Drive Apartments redevelopment. The initiative will revitalize one of Buffalo’s most recognizable waterfront communities as a modern neighborhood centered on affordable housing and quality of life.
Located along Buffalo’s Inner Harbor, Marine Drive Apartments have stood as a fixture of the city’s waterfront for more than 75 years. The multi-phase project will replace the existing aging public housing complex with a new mixed-income, affordable community designed to better serve current and future residents while strengthening cohesion with the surrounding urban fabric.
The first phase includes 254 affordable housing units spread across new 12-story and seven-story residential towers, a row of three-story townhomes, and a structured parking garage. Once residents relocate into the new homes, the first group of existing towers will be demolished to make way for subsequent phases of construction.
“Marine Drive represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine affordable housing on Buffalo’s waterfront,” said Senior Project Manager Brett Gawronski, AIA. “What makes this project especially meaningful is that residents helped shape the vision. Their ideas informed everything from outdoor spaces to the overall character of the neighborhood, guaranteeing it will reflect the people who call it home.”
When complete, the more than $400M redevelopment will provide around 700 affordable housing units across eight residential buildings, increasing housing options while offering a broader range of one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments. The community will feature generous green space, parking for 855 vehicles, playgrounds, an amenity lounge, gardens, a public plaza, and a center designed to support general gathering and recreation.
A pedestrian-focused street network will improve circulation throughout the site and bolster connections to surrounding neighborhoods and Buffalo’s waterfront destinations. Ground-floor retail space – totaling approximately 5K SF – will further activate the community, creating opportunities for neighborhood-serving businesses while enhancing the visitor experience.
Envisioned to celebrate Buffalo’s identity and history, the design draws inspiration from both Lake Erie and the city’s iconic grain elevators, incorporating architectural elements and welcoming spaces that reflect the character of the waterfront.
The redevelopment is being led by BMHA through its development entity, Bridges Development, in partnership with The Habitat Company and Duvernay + Brooks. SWBR is serving as Architect of Record on the transformative project, which will be delivered in multiple phases to allow current residents to remain housed throughout construction.
Members of the SWBR project team.
Once ready, Marine Drive will stand as a model for resident-first redevelopment, providing contemporary, affordable homes while driving Buffalo’s evolving next chapter for decades to come.